British Royal Navy Admiral. Born in Ceylon, Sri Lanka, he began his Naval career on the HMS Calcutta in 1854 and was a Midshipman on the HMS Highflyer during the 2nd Opium War (1856-60). Appointed Gunnery Lieutenant in 1863, he was promoted Commander on the HMS Donegal in 1869 and served in the Crimean War. In 1877, he was promoted Captain, commanding various ships in combat in the Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea until 1889. He was promoted Rear Admiral in 1890 and was Admiral Superintendent of the dockyard Portsmouth, where he personally supervised the work improving ship operations in the North Atlantic stations and Mediterranean. In 1902, he returned to England, as the 2nd Sea Lord in charge of personnel, took office as 1st Sea Lord in 1904, appointed to the Order of Merit and promoted Admiral of the Fleet in 1905. During World War I as 1st Lord of the Admiralty, he reorganized the British Navy to counter the rapid expansion of the German Navy, advocated amphibious strikes and his innovations formed the conception of the British Dreadnought Battleship. He died of cancer in position as 1st Baron at the age 79 in London, England. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)

Just reading a bit more about you. You modernized the hardware and some operational techniques, but you couldn't make much of a dent in the antiquated thinking of most of your fellow naval officers. And your second time around as First Sea Lord was a bi...(Read more)-
Old sailorAdded: Nov. 15, 2014

An astonishing man who totally revolutionised the British navy, and dragged it kicking and screaming into the 20th century.-
CB4Added: Jul. 4, 2014